Hello rhkraft.
Ethanol absorbs moisture from the humidity in the air, and that moisture never goes away, it collects over time and increases. Aside from that the actual gasoline breaks down and oxidizes with time. Hot weather just speeds up the process.
Many carburetors on small engine equipment are still made of (low grade/low Nickle) aluminum and usually have steel fuel bowls. Aluminum is a self- sacrificial metal that breaks down and develops a white powdered coating oxidation when exposed to moisture. Naturally the steel bowl breaks down as well.
Small engine equipment usually has a very rough life because it is left sitting with fuel in it for very long periods of time.
There is no real issue using the E-10 or E-15 fuels as long as it is frequently used and not left sitting. It is developed for high turnover.
Non-Ethanol fuel just extends the amount of time the fuel can sit unused; it simply breaks down much slower over time.
No one can truly predict when they will last use their small engine equipment, but it will be much more reliable if they empty the tanks and run them dry when the cold weather finally comes. The recovered fuel can simply be put to good use in their daily driver.
How many people will actually do that though? Not very many, so the cycle of neglect continues season after season.
Of course, the manufacturers who make the small engine equipment will not tell customers about this because it will threaten their future sales.
Any machine, regardless of brand becomes a throw away if it is taken for granted and neglected. Some just suffer more abuse than others.
